Apparatus for surface-treatment of wound cloth by steam impregnation, and control devices therefor



March 2, 1954 DOURDEVlLLE 2.670.622

APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATMENT 0F WOUND CLOTH BY STEAM IMPREGNATION, AND CONTROL DEVICES THEREFOR Filed May 9, 1951 '3 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. THEODORE A. DOURDEVlL-LE.

March 1954 T. A. DOURDEVILLE 2,670,6

APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATMENT OF WOUND CLOTH BY STEAM IMPREGNATION, AND CONTROL DEVICES THEREFOR Filed May 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. O m m w.

THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE March 2, 1954 T. A. DOURDEVILLE 2,670,622

APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATMENT OF WOUND CLOTH BY STEAM IMPREGNATION, AND CONTROL DEVICES THEREFOR Filed May 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVEN TOR.

THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE.

BY am. n M

minutes.

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 TTUNITED STATES PATENT oFFIca APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATMENT OF WOUND CLOTH BY STEAM IMPREGNA- TION, AND CONTROL DEVICES THEREFOR Theodore A. Dourdeville, Holden, Mass., assignor to David Gessner Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 9, 1951, Serial No. 225,421

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for treating cloth in a cloth-finishing operation, and further relates to improved control devices for said apparatus and by which the desired treatment may be effectively and conveniently carried out.

Briefly stated, my improved treatment contemplates winding along strip of cloth, commonly woolen or worsted, on a large perforated drum in many superposed layers and with an apron of canvas or similar material alternately disposed between the wound layers of cloth, and preferably also with several layers of the apron wound outside of the cloth. The winding is performed under substantial tension, and the wound cloth is held tightly rolled during the treatment thereof.

Steam under pressure is admitted to the inside of the perforated drum, and a pressure of 2 to 3 lbs. at the inner surface of the wound cloth is maintained until the steam has penetrated to the outer windings of the cloth and apron.

The rate of steam flow is then reduced, usually to about one-fourth; and the pressure at said inner cloth surface may drop to 1 or 2 lbs. This lessened flow and lower pressure is maintained on the cloth for a brief period, such as 2 to 4 The steam is then shut ed and the drum is connected to a relatively large vacuum or air pump, which exhausts the steam and any condensation from the cloth, and which draws outside air through the cloth to cool the cloth.

At the end of a definite period, say 2 to 4 minutes, the steam-treated and partially dried and cooled cloth may be removed from the drum. It will then be found that a superior surface finish has been imparted thereto.

I have also provided automatic electric and hydraulic controls by which the entire process may be carried out without manual attention.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of parts of a cloth finishing machine in which my improved process may be conveniently carried out;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. l, and with the large air valve shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the steam valve and its control devices;

Fig. 4 is asectional plan view of the steam valve member, taken along the line 8-4 in Fig. 3;

2 Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the hy draulic connections by which the previously described process may be carried out; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of certain electrical devices and connections for automatically controlling the operation of the machine and particularly the operation of the hydraulic connectionsand associated parts shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown parts of a cloth finishing machine including a large perforated drum Ill on which the cloth C to be finished and an apron A are wound in superposed layers, and preferably with several extra layers of apron wound outside of the cloth package. The winding is carried out under substantial tension, and the winding pressure is substantially maintained by the outer layers of the apron.

The drum ID has a large gear l2 engaged by a suitable driving pinion (not shown) and by which the drum may be rotated at a desired speed and in a desired direction. The hollow hub of the drum I0 is connected b 'a large flexible pipe M (Fig.2) to a port in the casing I5 of an air valve V. The outlet of the valve V is connected to a large air exhaust or vacuum pump P (Fig. 1) driven by a motor M through a belt 22. and pulley 23.

Steam is delivered through a supply pipe 36 and valve V2 to a pipe 31 which enters the casing l5 of the valve V through a port32 in the front face thereof. e

The details of construction of the airvalve are shown in .Fig. 2, where. the valve disc 35 is shown spaced. below the annular valve seat 35, and is in the position which it occupies when the pump P is exhausting steam and air from the drum Iii.

A valve rod 39 extends upward through a fixed 7 bearing 32' and passes through an opening in a yoke 49 which is swiveled to the lower end of a solenoid plunger M by across pin 42. The rod 38 is connected to'the yoke 40 through a compression spring M and nut 45, which spring connection prevents the disc 35 from striking its'seat 36 with a hard and unyielding blow.

The solenoid plunger 4| slides freely in the solenoid N and the air valve V is closed whenever the solenoid N is energized. The control circuits are so devised that the air valve will be-closed whenever the steam valve V2 is open.

The special construction provided for control of the steam valve V2 is clearly shown in Fig. 3, where a valve disc of poppet-type abuts a conical seat 5| whenever the valve rod 52 is drawn upward. I I

The valve rod 52 extends upward through a packed bearing 53 and loosely through a collar 2,670,622 1 ii I T valve V2, and its piston has a piston rod 62 extending downward into position to. engage the upper end of the valve rod 52. A bushing 63 is secured to the lower end of the piston rodv S2 and v is slidable in a fixed bearing 64.

Pressure may be applied in the cylinderfifl' (Fig. 5) through a supply pipe 65. When pressure is thus applied, the valve member will be depressed and steam will be admitted to the pipe 3! and thence through the air valve V and pipe [4 (Fig. 2) to the drum Ill, it being understood that the air valve is closed to prevent steam blowing through the pump-P at this time."

' The valve disc 50 has an upstanding annular flange 67-" having deep V-shaped recesses 68 therein, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

As the outersurface of the upstanding flange 6? isa sliding fit in the cylindrical upper part of the valve seat 5!, the only passage for steam from the pipe 30 to the pipe 3l' is through the portionsof the-V-shaped recesses 68 which are positioned below the cylindrical upper part of the valve seat. Consequently, the further the valve member 50' is depressed, the greater the steam flow, and as the Valve member is raised, the steam flow is correspondinglyreduced.

The spring 55 normally acts to close the valve V2,and the rate of flow is controlled by the compression of the spring by the piston 5! and associated: parts.

The hydraulic connections for the control of the'steain valve V2'are shown diagramrnaticalh in Fig. 5. A substantial oil pressure, such as 100 lbs. per square inch, is maintained in a supply pipe 10' having branch pipes H and 12. A normally-closed three-way valve V3 is inserted between the pipe H and the pipe 65 leading to the cylinder 60. A suitable pressure gauge G may be mounted on the pipe 65. The valve V3 is shifted by a solenoid N3 (Fig. 6).

The pipe 12 is connected to a second threeway valve V4 through a restricted orifice device N by which the flow of oil is much reduced. The valve V4 is shifted by a solenoid N4 (Fig. 6).

If the valve V3 is turned anti-clockwise 90,

full oil pressure will be applied through the pipe 65 to the cylinder 60, andthe steam valve V2 will be depressed and fully opened, thus allowing free flow of steam from the pipe 30 through the valve V2 and. pipe 14 to the drum I 0, it being understood that the air valve V is at this time closed by the solenoid N and associated parts.

When thevalves V3 and V4 are in the positions shown in Fig. 5, direct and full flow through the pipe 1! is blocked ofi, but restricted flow takes place through the pipe (2 and the valve V4 and thence through a connecting pipe 77 and the valve V3 to the pipe 55 and cylinder 80.

A relief valve V5 is connected into the pipe fl and prevents pressure in said pipe from rising above a relatively low point, as determined by the relief valve. Oil at this reduced pressure is delivered into the cylinder 60, but the pressure is not suflicient to fully compress the spring 55 (Fig.

3). Consequently, the valve member 50' rises .pait' way,- and the available portions of the re 4 cesses t8 are narrowed, thus reducing the steam flow.

At the end of a desired period, the solenoid N4 is deenergized and the valve V4 shifted clockwise 90 to its=vented position, thus shutting off thepressure pipe 12 andv connecting. the pipe TI to the exhaust. This vents the cylinder 50 and allows the steam valve 12 to fully close.

In the preferred form of my finishing appara tus, an automatic electrical control is provided for the several switches and valve solenoids. The electrical control connections are indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6, which is supplied with current-through line wires L and LI The switch S is amanual stop switch by which the processcan be interrupted at any point. The switch S2 is a normally-open manual starting switch. The switches S3 and S4 control a holding or shunt circuit through a wire and around the starting switch S2.

When S2 is closed,'S3 will also be closed, thus closing the shunt circuit, and the shunt circuit will remain closed after the switch. S2 has been released. The shunt circuit may thereafter be opened by the switch St when the finishing cycle is completed.

Both the holding circuit through the wire 80 and. the direct circuit through the switch S2 connect with a distributing wire I98 having a plurality of parallel branch connections to the line wire L5.

The wire or connection ma traverses a temperature switch 55, the solenoid N3 which operates the hydraulic valve V3 previously described, and a control switch S6. A branch wire I02 passes through the solenoid N which operates the main air valve V and. isthen connected into the wire 95. A- branch wire IE3 passes through a switch 53 and a timer T, and a branch wire WI passes through a-temperature switch S1 and. the solenoid N4 which actuatesthe hydraulic valve V i. The wire m4 is then connected into the Wire 33L A cross wire I directly joins the wires l 83 and Hit.

A wire lfll passes through a second timer T2, and a final wire I88 passes through a switch S9 and the starting mechanism of the motor M. The wire I88 is connected. to the timer T2 by a wire m9.

The stop switch S is normally closed and when the starting switch S2 is closed, the line wire L is connected to the distributing Wire Hi0. When switch S2 is closed, the switch S3 promptly closes tocomplcte a holding circuit through the wire at. The temperature switch S5 is normally closed and also the switch S6.

Current. passes through the branch wire .IOI to energize'the solenoid N3 which shifts the valve V3 (Fig. 5) anti-clockwise 90 to apply full pressure in the. cylinder 59 and.- tothereby open the steam. valve V2. At the same time, current through the branch wire. H32 energizes the solenoid N to close the air valve V, so that steam from. the pipe 3! (Fig. 5) may pass directly through the pipe it to the drum 1%.

After the steam has flowed long enough toraise the temperature of the temperature switch SS-to the desired point,.the switch S5 opens, cutting out the solenoid N3 and allowing the valve V3 to return clockwise 90 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The temperature switches 85 and S! are reversely coupled, so that when S5 is open, 81 is closed. 1 The closing oi s! completes the circuit through the solenoid N4, so that thevalve V4 is-turncd anti-clockwise 90 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and a reduced flow of steam at reduced pressure is supplied to the cylinder 69, whereupon the piston 6! (Fig. 3) partially rises and partially closes the steam valve V2.

At the end of the time interval determined by the timer T, the control switch S6 is opened, which in turn. opens the branch circuits llll, I02 and 94. The solenoid N is thus released and the air valve V opens. closes the switch S9 and starts the motor M which drives the air pump P. After a predtermined interval, the timer T2 opens the switch S4 and stop the motor M, thus completing the cycle. The apron may then be unwound and the cloth removed.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims but what I claim is:

1.. In a cloth finishing machine having a perforated winding drum adapted to receive superposed layers of cloth to be finished, in combination, control mechanism effective to supply steam at a predetermined pressure to the cloth through the drum, control mechanism effective to thereafter supply steam at a less pressure to said drum and cloth, a temperature device to render said second mechanism operative and said first mechanism simultaneously inoperative, means to exhaust the steam and draw outside cooling air through the cloth and drum, and interlocking means effective to stop the supply of lower pressure steam and to start said exhaust means.

2. In a cloth finishing machine having a perforated winding drum adapted to receive superposed layers of cloth to be finished, in combination, a steam supply, control mechanism effective The timer T simultaneously to admit steam at a predetermined pressur to the cloth through the drum, control mechanism effective to thereafter admit steam at a less but predetermined pressure to said drum and cloth, interlocking means effective to cause successive operation of said two control mechanisms, and a control device effective to initiate operation of said interlocking means on the occurrence of a predetermined temperature in said winding drum, and said control device including coupled but reversely-operating control switches.

3. In a cloth finishing machine having a periorated winding drum adapted to receive superposed layers of cloth to be finished, in combination, a steam supply, control mechanism efiective to admit steam at a predetermined pressure to the cloth through the drum, control mechanism effective to thereafter admit steam at a less but predetermined pressure to said drum and cloth, interlocking means effective to cause successive operation of said two control mechanisms, and a control device eiTective to initiate operation of said interlocking means on the occurrence of a predetermined temperature in said winding drum.

THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,051,399 Gessner Jan. 28, 1913 1,387,836 Cortese Aug. 16, 1921 1,677,367 Popkin July 17, 1928 1,738,837 Marble Dec. 10, 1929 2,350,021 Dunn May 30, 1944 2,358,344 Meyer Sept. 19, 1944 2,456,403 Goehring Dec. 14, 1948 2,557,718 Beekley June 19, 1951 

